Thank you for your interest in the Basic Pistol Marksmanship Course!
This popular course is offered by the MIT Pistol & Rifle Club, an association of MIT faculty, staff, students and other members of the MIT community. The course is certified by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and by the State Police of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and meets the state training requirements for the Massachusetts License to Carry Firearms.
See the main club web page for updated class dates and times.
The Course is offered several times per year, depending on demand and the availability of the MIT Pistol Range facilities. Class size is limited and is filled on a first-come-first-served basis. Proceeds from the course benefit the Club's Shooter Development Fund to further the shooting sports at MIT, including equipment and supplies for the MIT shooting facilities and Varsity teams. All of the instructors are volunteers.
The Basic Pistol Marksmanship Course includes about 6 hours of lecture and 2 hours of range time. Questions are encouraged and we try to cover as broad a range of materials as time allows. The lecture covers safe gun handling, firearms law, gun mechanics, types of ammunition and the basics of good marksmanship. In addition to the various aspects of gun handling, we also discuss shooting sports and Club membership. On the range, we cover slow and sustained fire, various methods for diagnosing errors in shooting technique, how to develop good shooting habits as well as the skills needed for competitive bulls-eye shooting. Although the primary focus of the course is on target shooting, the skills taught provide an excellent foundation for those interested in handguns for personal protection.
Our course is well suited to beginners. The step-by-step approach builds on basic skills to provide a firm foundation for the new shooter. In addition, we offer much for the experienced shooter in terms of tips and drills to improve technique. You do not need to have any prior experience with firearms and no firearms permits are required. Ammunition, targets, safety equipment and .22 caliber target pistols are all provided. The course fee covers all materials including ammunition, targets, a very nice handbook on pistol marksmanship published by the NRA and two certificates of completion (Massachusetts and NRA).
The course fee is $125.
Please register on line for the upcoming class by clicking here AND fill out the Registration Form. Please send the form with your $25 (non-refundable) deposit to:
MITPRC Class Registration PO Box 397031 Cambridge, Mass. 02139
Please make checks payable to MITPRC Development Fund
Please include an e-mail address where we can send confirmation, directions and preliminary information.
Comments or questions? Email us.